Ian Duncan
Encyclopedia
Ian Duncan is one of Kenya
's most successful rally drivers. He was Kenyan Rally Champion six times (1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2000 and 2011), and achieved outright victory in a World Rally Championship
round when he won the 42nd Trustbank Safari Rally
in 1994. This was one of seven consecutive top ten finishes in the event from 1990–1996, despite its notorious attrition rate.
. His first tastes of driving occurred when he was aged around ten, as he helped his mother when she got stuck at farm roads during rainy seasons. He went to St. Mary's High School
, but was more interested in repairing cars and motorcycles. He also competed in motocross winning the national 125 cc title in 1979 and 1980. He competed at the Safari Rally first time in 1983 driving a Nissan pick-up navigated by Gavin Bennett, reaching ninth position and a class victory, gaining the attention of rally people.
His first victorious national rally was Nakuru Rally in 1987 while driving a Toyota Celica twin-cam turbo
navigated by Ian Munro. Duncan won his first national championship the same year winning most of the races. He won the 1987 national Motor Sportsman of the Year Award.
Having competed with a Group A
Subaru Legacy
and Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
in the 1990s. Apart from Safari Rally, he competed in WRC rallies only few times. The best result was finishing 8th overall and winning the Group N
class in a Subaru Legacy at the 1990 Acropolis Rally in Greece
, navigated by Yvonne Mehta (the wife of Shekhar Mehta
).
Later he was running a non-homologated Toyota Hilux
with a turbocharged
4.5 L engine in the Kenyan National Rally Championship (KNRC). In November 2006 Duncan won Guru Nanak Rally, becoming the first driver to win a KNRC round for tenth time. He was imposed a four percent time penalty due to his non-homologated vehicle. He extended the record in 2007 by winning Guru Nanak Rally again.
Duncan has won the Rhino Charge
off-road event in 1998, 2006 and 2007. He has competed in motorcycling. In 2003, he was the runner up of Kenyan enduro
, motocross
as well as rally championships.
He introduced his newest rally car, a Nissan Patrol
pick-up, in October 2008. In 2008 he also won the national autocross
championship. In 2009, 15 years after winning the Safari Rally proper, Duncan won the Safari classic rally
driving a 1967 Ford Mustang
navigated by his current navigator Amaar Slatch. The defending champion Björn Waldegård
was left to the second place.
In 2011 he won the Kenyan National Rally Championship for the sixth time
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
's most successful rally drivers. He was Kenyan Rally Champion six times (1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2000 and 2011), and achieved outright victory in a World Rally Championship
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
round when he won the 42nd Trustbank Safari Rally
Safari Rally
The Safari Rally is considered by many to be the world's toughest rally. It was first held from 27 May to 1 June 1953 as the East African Coronation Safari in Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika, as a celebration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II...
in 1994. This was one of seven consecutive top ten finishes in the event from 1990–1996, despite its notorious attrition rate.
Career
He spent his childhood at his parents' farm in LimuruLimuru
Limuru is a town in central Kenya. It is also the name of a parliamentary constituency and an administrative division. Current 2004 population is about 4800....
. His first tastes of driving occurred when he was aged around ten, as he helped his mother when she got stuck at farm roads during rainy seasons. He went to St. Mary's High School
St. Mary's School, Nairobi
St. Mary's School, popularly known to many Nairobians as Saints, is a day school owned by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi. It was founded in the Parklands area of Nairobi in 1939 and was long run by Holy Ghost Fathers from Blackrock College in Dublin in Ireland.-History:In 1946, the...
, but was more interested in repairing cars and motorcycles. He also competed in motocross winning the national 125 cc title in 1979 and 1980. He competed at the Safari Rally first time in 1983 driving a Nissan pick-up navigated by Gavin Bennett, reaching ninth position and a class victory, gaining the attention of rally people.
His first victorious national rally was Nakuru Rally in 1987 while driving a Toyota Celica twin-cam turbo
Toyota Celica GT-Four
The Toyota Celica GT-Four is a high performance model of the Celica liftback, with a turbocharged 3S-GTE engine, and full-time AWD. It was created to compete in the World Rally Championship, whose regulations dictate that a manufacturer must build road-going versions of the vehicle in sufficient...
navigated by Ian Munro. Duncan won his first national championship the same year winning most of the races. He won the 1987 national Motor Sportsman of the Year Award.
Having competed with a Group A
Group A
In relation to motorsport governed by the FIA, Group A referred to a set of regulations providing production-derived vehicles for outright competition. In contrast to the short-lived Group B and Group C, the Group A referred to production-derived vehicles limited in terms of power, weight, allowed...
Subaru Legacy
Subaru Legacy
The Subaru Legacy is a mid-size car built by the Japanese company Fuji Heavy Industries, and manufactured by its division Subaru since 1989, and is available as a sedan or wagon. Part of the original design goals for the Legacy model was to provide Subaru a vehicle in which they could compete in...
and Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
Toyota Celica GT-Four
The Toyota Celica GT-Four is a high performance model of the Celica liftback, with a turbocharged 3S-GTE engine, and full-time AWD. It was created to compete in the World Rally Championship, whose regulations dictate that a manufacturer must build road-going versions of the vehicle in sufficient...
in the 1990s. Apart from Safari Rally, he competed in WRC rallies only few times. The best result was finishing 8th overall and winning the Group N
Group N
In relation to motorsport governed by the FIA, Group N refers to a set of regulations providing 'standard' production vehicles for competition, often referred to as the "Showroom Class"....
class in a Subaru Legacy at the 1990 Acropolis Rally in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, navigated by Yvonne Mehta (the wife of Shekhar Mehta
Shekhar Mehta
Chandrashekhar "Shekhar" Mehta was a Ugandan-born Kenyan rally driver. He won the Safari Rally a record five times , including four consecutively, and in 1981 finished fifth in the World Rally Championship...
).
Later he was running a non-homologated Toyota Hilux
Toyota Hilux
The Toyota Hilux is a series of compact pickup trucks produced and marketed by the Toyota Motor Corporation. Most countries used the Hilux name for the entire life of the series but in North America, the Hilux name was retired in 1976 in favor of Truck, Pickup Truck, or Compact Truck...
with a turbocharged
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
4.5 L engine in the Kenyan National Rally Championship (KNRC). In November 2006 Duncan won Guru Nanak Rally, becoming the first driver to win a KNRC round for tenth time. He was imposed a four percent time penalty due to his non-homologated vehicle. He extended the record in 2007 by winning Guru Nanak Rally again.
Duncan has won the Rhino Charge
Rhino Charge
Rhino Charge is an annual event, held in Kenya, in which the competitors have to compete on a gruelling cross-country course in 4x4 vehicles. All funds raised by this event are donated to Rhino Ark, a Kenyan charity set up to help to conserve the Aberdare Conservation area.RHINO CHARGE OVERVIEWThe...
off-road event in 1998, 2006 and 2007. He has competed in motorcycling. In 2003, he was the runner up of Kenyan enduro
Enduro
Enduro is a form of motorcycle sport run on courses that are predominantly off-road. Enduro consists of many different obstacles and challenges...
, motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
as well as rally championships.
He introduced his newest rally car, a Nissan Patrol
Nissan Patrol
The Nissan Patrol is a four-wheel drive vehicle manufactured by Nissan in Japan since 1951. In Japan since 1980, it has been known as the Nissan Safari. The Patrol is available in Australasia, Central and South America, South Africa, parts of Southeast Asia and Western Europe as well as Iran and...
pick-up, in October 2008. In 2008 he also won the national autocross
Autocross
Autocross is a form of motorsports that emphasizes safe competition and active participation. An autocross is a timed competition where drivers navigate one at a time through a defined course on either sealed or unsealed surfaces...
championship. In 2009, 15 years after winning the Safari Rally proper, Duncan won the Safari classic rally
Classic rally
Classic rallying, or historic rallying, is a type of road rally suitable for most standard classic cars, with no special equipment needed . These rallies are more about enjoyment than speed, and can be a good introduction to historic motorsport...
driving a 1967 Ford Mustang
Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. It was initially based on the second generation North American Ford Falcon, a compact car. Introduced early on April 17, 1964, as a "1964½" model, the 1965 Mustang was the automaker's most successful launch since the Model A...
navigated by his current navigator Amaar Slatch. The defending champion Björn Waldegård
Björn Waldegård
Björn Waldegård from Rimbo is a former Swedish rally driver, and the winner of the inaugural World Rally Championship for drivers in 1979...
was left to the second place.
In 2011 he won the Kenyan National Rally Championship for the sixth time
WRC victories
| # | Event | Season | Co-driver | Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  42nd Trustbank Safari RallySafari Rally The Safari Rally is considered by many to be the world's toughest rally. It was first held from 27 May to 1 June 1953 as the East African Coronation Safari in Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika, as a celebration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II... |
1994 | David Williamson | Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD Toyota Celica The Toyota Celica name has been applied to a series of coupes made by the Japanese company Toyota. The name is ultimately derived from the Latin word coelica meaning "heavenly" or "celestial".... |
External links
- Profile of Duncan at Rallybase.nl, including international results
- Report on Duncan's victory in the 1994 Safari Rally
- Kenya National Rally Championship, official site